High-visibility garment for a user of a motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

A high-visibility garment, packaging therefor and pack arrangement, wherein the high-visibility garment is produced from a single-layer textile web or plastics sheet material, the thickness of which is of such small, dimensions that the high-visibility garment can be folded up to a pack volume within a range of from 20 cm 3  to 50 cm 3 .

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of German Patent Application No. 10 2010 063604.5 filed on Dec. 20, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application.

The invention relates to a high-visibility garment for a user of a motor vehicle, having at least one light-reflecting pattern, and to a packaging for a high-visibility garment of this type, and to a pack arrangement having packagings of this type, and finally to a method for producing a high-visibility garment of this type.

A high-visibility vest is generally known for use in road traffic and in particular for carrying in a motor vehicle. The high-visibility vest is realized in a luminous color and has a plurality of reflector strips stitched thereon.

It is the object of the invention to provide a high-visibility garment of the type mentioned at the beginning, which can be accommodated in a motor vehicle in a space-saving manner.

This object is achieved in that the high-visibility garment is produced from a single-layer textile web or plastics sheet material, the thickness of which is of such small dimensions that the high-visibility vest can be folded up to a pack volume within a range of from 20 cm³ to 50 cm³. The high-visibility garment according to the invention is therefore much smaller in the folded-up state than conventional high-visibility nests which have, for example, a pack volume of 360 cm³. It is thereby possible to stow the high-visibility garment in a particularly space-saving manner. It can be accommodated, in particular in the vehicle interior, at locations which are easily accessible from the seat positions of the motor vehicle without significantly restricting the available stowage space in the vehicle interior. The high-visibility garment can be designed as a classic high-visibility vest with two lateral arm openings and with or without a front-side fastener. As an alternative, it is possible to design the high-visibility garment in the manner of a poncho, wherein the high-visibility garment has a head opening in order to be pulled over from above. An essential feature of the high-visibility garment is that a sufficiently large back and chest surface is provided so as to make it easy to see a person provided with the high-visibility garment. Open sides of the high-visibility garment, i.e. the front side in the case of a vest and the side flanks in the case of a poncho, can be closed by at least one rubber band, by a touch-and-close fastener, by straps or ties or the like. It is possible to provide a peripheral cord or belt arrangement of a width sufficient to enable the high-visibility garment to be thrown over or pulled over. After the garment has been thrown over or pulled over, the cord or belt arrangement is pulled tight in the hip or chest region.

In a refinement of the invention, the high-visibility garment is joined together from a plurality of blank parts. In this case, the high-visibility garment consists of at least two blank parts. The joining-together of the blank parts advantageously takes place via an integrally bonded connection, such as welding or adhesive bonding. The joining-together preferably takes place by an integrally bonded connection taking place in an abutting manner, in particular by welding. It is also possible to connect the blank parts to one another in an overlapping manner instead of in an abutting manner.

In a further refinement of the invention, the at least one light-reflecting pattern is applied in an integrally bonded manner to the high-visibility garment as a thin coating. The application can preferably be undertaken by printing. As an alternative, the pattern can be applied by spreading or flocking or else adhesive bonding in the form of thin adhesive strips.

In a further refinement of the invention, the light-reflecting pattern is of retro-reflecting design. This means that reflection takes place substantially independently of an orientation of the reflector at least substantially in the direction of the radiation source. In an advantageous manner, the retro-reflection takes place in accordance with German industry standard DIN EN471.

In a further refinement of the invention, the single-layer textile web or plastics sheet material is of at least substantially crumple-free design, and/or the textile web or plastics sheet material has a melting point >60° C. The heat resistance ensures protection in the event of fire, and if the engine compartment is hot or in an environment which is hot for other reasons. The low-crumple design ensures that the high-visibility vest at least substantially opens from the folded-up state when spreading out into the functional state in order to be able to be tightened in a simple manner and in order to be able to fulfill the desired protective function.

In a further refinement of the invention, at least one blank part from the textile web or plastics sheet material is provided with three-dimensional texturing, in particular an arrangement of impressions, the texturing in particular having a pattern of pyramid-shaped impressions distributed over the surface of the blank part. The three-dimensional texturing ensures that layers of the high-visibility garment which lie on one another in the folded-up state do not adhesively bond to one another or stick together in another manner. Texturing by means of pyramid-like depressions which are calendered in is particularly advantageous. Texturing of this type permits space-saving folding-up of the high-visibility garment, since pyramid peaks and pyramid depressions of the different layers when lying one above another can each be found in one another.

In a further refinement of the invention, the high-visibility vest can be folded up by rolling and/or folding. These are particularly simple ways of ensuring that the high-visibility vest is rapidly folded up to the compact pack volume, and in order to permit the high-visibility vest to be rapidly and reliably spread out into the functional state.

The object on which the invention is based is also achieved by a packaging for a high-visibility garment, in which the packaging has a holding volume of less than 60 cm³. The packaging is provided to hold the high-visibility garment in the folded-up state and to secure the garment in said folded-up position. The packaging is preferably designed in the form of a bag or box. It may be produced from a plastics sheet material or from cardboard or from a flexible textile fabric or a textile knitted or mesh product. The packaging preferably constitutes a thin, flexible external packaging which fits directly on the outside of the outer contour of the folded-up high-visibility garment. A compactly folded-up high-visibility garment is preferably welded into a corresponding plastics sheet which serves as the packaging. In the closed state, the packaging is advantageously sealed in an airtight manner.

In a further refinement of the invention, in the closed state a holding space of the packaging has a triangular cross section. As a result, it is possible to stow a plurality of packagings compactly lying one on another.

According to the invention, a pack arrangement is advantageously equipped with at least two packagings provided with high-visibility garments according to the invention, wherein the packagings are connected to one another via predetermined tearing lines. Accordingly, the pack arrangement according to the invention comprises a plurality of packagings and a plurality of high-visibility garments, wherein, when required, a high-visibility garment in the form of a high-visibility vest or the like together with the corresponding packaging thereof can be torn off from the pack arrangement in a simple manner.

In a further refinement of the invention, a plurality of packagings which are filled with high-visibility garments and have a triangular cross section lie one on another in a block-shaped manner in two parallel planes. This can result in a cross-sectionally trapezoidal pack arrangement which permits a particular compact stowing of a plurality of high-visibility vests or similar high-visibility garments.

The invention also relates to a method for producing a high-visibility garment for a user of a motor vehicle, in which a single- or multi-part blank is produced from a single-layer textile web or plastics sheet material, said blank being provided with at least one light-reflecting pattern, wherein the thickness of the textile web or plastics sheet material is of such small dimensions that the high-visibility garment can be folded up to a pack volume within a range of from 20 cm³ to 50 cm³. The method also comprises further method steps illustrated in the description.

Further advantages and features of the invention emerge from the claims and from the description below of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows, in various steps, an embodiment of a high-visibility vest according to the invention between an unfolded functional state and a folded-up transport state,

FIG. 2 shows schematically difference packagings for a high-visibility vest according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a pack arrangement consisting of a plurality of cylindrical packagings according to FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 shows a further pack arrangement consisting of a plurality of packagings having a triangular cross section according to FIG. 2, and

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b and 6 a and 6 b show, in an enlarged illustration, perspective details of a high-visibility garment according to FIG. 1.

A high-visibility vest 1 according to FIG. 1 is produced from a single-layer, thin and flexible plastics sheet material and is provided with a classic high-visibility vest blank. The high-visibility vest has two light-reflecting strips 2 which encircle the stomach and back regions and are imprinted onto the plastics sheet material. The plastics sheet material of the high-visibility vest 1 is of such thin design that the high-visibility vest can be folded up and, in the folded-up state (the final illustration in the direction of the arrow), has a pack volume of a height of 1 cm, width of 4 cm and length of 9 cm. This results in a pack volume of 36 cm³.

As an alternative, the high-visibility vest 1 can also be folded up in a different geometrical form. Finally, it is also possible to fold up the high-visibility vest 1 initially to half of the height thereof and subsequently to roll up the folded-over high-visibility vest 1, thus producing a cylindrically rolled-up state.

Four different packagings 4 a to 4 d which all have a holding volume of 36 cm³ are provided with reference to FIG. 2. The packaging 4 a constitutes a cuboid shape with a small width and large height. The packaging 4 b likewise has a cuboid shape with a small height and larger width. The packaging 4 c constitutes a cylinder shape. The packaging 4 d has a triangular cross section. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, all of the packagings are produced from a dimensionally stable cardboard or plastics material in the manner of a box. Said packagings are designed in such a manner that the high-visibility vest can be introduced into the packaging in an appropriately folded-up or rolled-up state. The packaging can subsequently be closed. Each of the packagings 4 a to 4 d illustrated is designed for single use. This means that the packaging 4 a to 4 d is torn open, cut open or destroyed in another manner for corresponding use of the high-visibility vest 1 and is subsequently disposed of.

Two embodiments for pack arrangements having in each case a total of five packagings 4 c and 4 d are shown with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, five cylindrical packagings 4 c are welded consecutively in a row into a plastics sheet material. Between in each case two adjacent packagings 4 c, the pack arrangement 5 has predetermined separating lines 6 which, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated, are designed as perforations. This makes it possible, when required, to tear off and to use one or more packagings from the pack arrangement 5.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, five packagings 4 d having a triangular cross section are arranged parallel to one another in two different planes, wherein the packagings 4 d are joined together in a block-shaped manner. This results in a trapezoidal cross section having a width I and a height h. In the described holding volume of 36 cm³ for a packaging, a width I of 90 mm and a height h of 30 mm arises. The packagings 4 d can be connected to one another in the compactly joined-together pack arrangement according to FIG. 4 by means of a strap or a similar wrapping. As an alternative, it is possible to connect the packagings 4 d releasably to one another via adhesively bonding points or similar connecting points such that, when required, one or more packagings can be separated from the remaining packagings 4 d without damaging the remaining packagings 4 d.

In the embodiments according to FIGS. 5 a and 5 b, a high-visibility garment according to the invention is produced as a multi-part blank from a plastics sheet material. According to an alternative according to FIG. 5 a, the blank parts are connected to one another at the borders thereof by sheetlike overlapping and adhesive bonding or welding. In the alternative according to FIG. 5 b, joining together takes place substantially in an abutting manner, wherein the border edges of the blank parts are bent over slightly at right angles in order to permit better welding or adhesive bonding of the border edges to one another. The joining alternative according to FIG. 5 b permits a particularly simple and rapid unfolding of a high-visibility garment from the folded-up state. In the embodiment according to FIGS. 6 a and 6 b, a textile web or plastics sheet material of the high-visibility garment is provided with three-dimensional texturing which, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated, is formed by pyramid-like depressions which are calendered in. The dimensioning of said depressions in comparison to the thickness of the textile web or plastics sheet material can be seen with reference to the sectional illustration according to FIG. 6 b. Accordingly, a depression corresponds in the depth thereof approximately to one to three times the thickness of the textile web or plastics sheet material. A width of each pyramid-like depression corresponds preferably to three to five times the thickness of the textile web or plastics sheet material. The pyramid-like depressions are distributed in a plurality of rows and at uniform distances over a surface of the blank of the high-visibility garment. 

1. High-visibility garment for a user of a motor vehicle, having at least one light-reflecting pattern, characterized in that the high-visibility garment (1) is produced from a single-layer textile web or plastics sheet material, the thickness of which is of such small dimensions that the high-visibility garment can be folded up to a pack volume within a range of from 20 cm³ to 50 cm³.
 2. High-visibility garment according to claim 1, characterized in that the high-visibility garment is joined together from a plurality of blank parts.
 3. High-visibility garment according to claim 2, characterized in that the joining-together is provided by an integrally bonded connection taking place in an abutting manner, in particular welding.
 4. High-visibility garment according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one light-reflecting pattern is applied in an integrally bonded manner to the high-visibility garment (1) as a thin coating (2).
 5. High-visibility garment according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one blank part comprises the light-reflecting pattern.
 6. High-visibility garment according to claim 1, characterized in that the light-reflecting pattern is of retro-reflecting design.
 7. High-visibility garment according to claim 1, characterized in that the single-layer textile web or plastics sheet material is of at least substantially crumple-free design and/or the textile web or plastics sheet material has a melting point of greater than 60° C.
 8. High-visibility garment according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one blank part from the textile web or plastics sheet material is provided with three-dimensional texturing, in particular an arrangement of impressions, the texturing in particular having a pattern of pyramid-shaped impressions distributed over the surface of the blank part.
 9. High-visibility garment according to claim 1, characterized in that the high-visibility garment (1) can be folded up by rolling and/or folding.
 10. Method for producing a high-visibility garment for a user of a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a single- or multi-part blank is produced from a single-layer textile web or plastics sheet material, said blank being provided with at least one light-reflecting pattern, wherein the thickness of the textile web or plastics sheet material is of such small dimensions that the high-visibility garment can be folded up to a pack volume within a range of from 20 cm³ to 50 cm³.
 11. Packaging for a high-visibility garment according to claim 1, characterized in that the packaging has a holding volume of less than 60 cm³.
 12. Packaging according to claim 11, characterized in that a holding space of the packaging has a triangular cross section.
 13. Pack arrangement having at least two packagings according to claim 11, characterized in that the packagings (4 c) are connected to each other via predetermined separating lines (6).
 14. Pack arrangement according to the preamble of claim 13, characterized in that a plurality of packagings (4 d) which are filled with high-visibility garments (1) and have a triangular cross section lie one on another in a block-shaped manner in two parallel planes. 